Request for Proposals (RFP) Document. Global Innovations for Character Development. March 2018

Transcription

1 Request for Proposals (RFP) Document Global Innovations for Character Development March

2 Table of Contents Global Innovations for Character Development 3 I. About Templeton World Charity Foundation 3 II. Explanation of Theme 3 III. What We Fund 4 IV. Types of Awards 5 V. Evaluation Process 7 VI. Evaluation Criteria 7 VII. Eligibility Criteria 8 VIII. Outputs 8 IX. Capacity Building 9 X. Application Process 9 XI. Notification of Applicants 9 XII. Conditions of the Award 9 XIII. Inquiries 10 Appendix 1 11 List of Eligible Countries 11 2

3 Request for Proposals Global Innovations for Character Development I. About Templeton World Charity Foundation Templeton World Charity Foundation, Inc. (TWCF) was established in 1996 to serve as a philanthropic catalyst for discoveries relating to Big Questions of life and the universe, in areas of science, theology, philosophy, and human society. Sir John Templeton was interested in concepts that he referred to as invisible realities, including (but not limited to) such examples as love, infinity, creativity, gratitude, intelligence, and purpose. He established the Foundation to foster rigorous scholarship and broad communications on such diverse topics in order to stimulate humility, curiosity, and enthusiasm for new discoveries. This is reflected in the Foundation s motto: How little we know, how eager to learn. Sir John believed that human flourishing results from the active learning and practice of specific character strengths: Wherever we find ourselves in life, whatever the circumstances, whatever habits may be influencing our decisions, we can transform each situation into a learning and growing experience. We can determine how to be the masters of our habits so that our habits 1 can be useful servants to us. He saw character development as the means by which to deepen knowledge and understanding of the human person, and to enhance human flourishing. Sir John s ultimate objective for character development was to help individuals become more spiritually prosperous; he wanted people to be transformed by what he perceived to be spiritual principles, and believed that the products of such spiritual prosperity would be personal, and relational, and lead to social, and economic prosperity. He wrote in the Foreword to The Templeton Plan, It is my vision that more and more people worldwide will lead lives of happiness and usefulness, and prosperity if we work continuously toward spiritual growth and a better understanding of the virtues by which we 2 should govern ourselves. 1 J.M. Templeton, Wisdom from the World s Religions, J.M. Templeton, The Templeton Plan, 11 3

4 II. Explanation of Theme Building upon Sir John s vision, the aim of TWCF s Global Innovations for Character Development (GICD) initiative is to measurably transform lives through the cultivation of character strengths among individuals and communities. With some exceptions, the majority of current research into character development emanates from high income settings in North America, Western Europe and Asia. While the positive psychology movement has brought a global awareness to character development, there is a relative paucity of funding for specific research programmes that examine the contextual nature of character development as well as practical examples of scalable programs. TWCF believes that there is an immense opportunity to both transform lives and advance the field through supporting character development initiatives in diverse contexts. To this end, TWCF is offering funding for innovative, high quality research and implementation projects throughout eligible countries (see Appendix 1 for the full list). Specifically, this Request for Proposals (RFP) will fund: 1. The development and evaluation of scalable innovations aimed at promoting and fostering character strengths, and; 2. The development, adaptation or validation of tools for measuring character development By supporting this theme, TWCF aims to generate definitive evidence of the impact of promoting character strengths intrinsic to the specific cultural and contextual circumstances of these countries. In addition, we aim to build capacity amongst local researchers and provide a wide range of audiences with the evidence, knowledge and resources that will result in the cultivation of character strengths and related behaviors. III. What We Fund TWCF defines character strengths as learned and learnable attributes, skills, or dispositions which enable individuals to live better, more fulfilling, and prosperous lives. The process of character development encompasses the development and nurturing of diverse aspects of character, often referred to as virtues, habits, soft skills, capabilities, and non-cognitive skills as encountered in diverse fields of study. Due to this diversity, TWCF has not provided a definitive list of character strengths. Examples of potential character strengths as identified by Sir John Templeton and others include: 4

5 appreciation of beauty, awe, beneficial purpose, compassion, creativity, curiosity, diligence, empathy, entrepreneurship, forgiveness, future-mindedness, generosity, gratitude, honesty, hope, humility, humor, integrity, joy, kindness, love, optimism, perseverance, reliability, responsibility, self-regulation, selflessness, social responsibility, thrift, and wisdom. The foundation also strongly encourages applications with new thinking on character strengths not specifically identified here. Notably, TWCF seeks to fund research into character strengths with an explicit moral and ethical dimension that can lead to personal and societal flourishing in all its dimensions (physical, economic, mental, and spiritual). To this end, TWCF is specifically interested in proposals which: Focus on identification and promotion of culturally important character strengths; Evaluate the contribution of character strengths to social functioning, educational achievement, economic outcomes, health status etc. Focus on the promotion and fostering of positive character strengths (i.e. virtues) rather than on the mitigation of negative traits (i.e. vices) or on immoral or unethical behaviour; Aim to transform values and attitudes so that a group of people or society as a whole espouse, promote, and practice positive character development; Analyze the impact on an individual of voluntarily engaging in programs and interventions that seek to serve and benefit others; Emphasize the merits of a particular character strength; Explore how the practice or presence of one character strength relates to the presence or practice of another in an individual; Proposals may target individuals from infancy through to adulthood and innovations can be delivered through a diversity of platforms (schools, voluntary associations, private sector, religious communities, sports clubs, peers, parents & family members). TWCF aims to build global capacity for research and implementation of character development initiatives. Consequently, partnerships between local, regional and international researchers and practitioners are highly encouraged and may be eligible for additional funding. IV. Types of Awards Proof of Concept Grants In this initial round, TWCF is offering approximately 10 Proof of Concept (PoC) grants of up to USD $234,000 for projects of months in the following two categories: Character Development: Character development grants will be awarded for the development and evaluation of innovations that promote and nurture character strengths. Proposals funded under this category are expected to demonstrate: (i) Measurable improvements in knowledge, awareness/valuation and 5

6 expression/practice of character strengths among individuals in the target population. TWCF strongly encourages proposals which also examine the impact of promoting character strengths on social, economic, health and related human development outcomes. (ii) The potential for achieving impact at scale. TWCF seeks PoC proposals which are acceptable to the target population, feasible to implement in a sustainable manner, and cost effective. (iii) Demand. TWCF expects that the most successful innovations it funds will be scaled up through partnerships. To this end, proposals should also identify and where possible engage key stakeholders for whom the evidence and outcomes generated will be of interest (e.g. policy makers, funders, ingos). Proposals should include a well articulated research methodology and evaluation strategy. TWCF expects the majority of proposals funded under this category will use a quasi-experimental (e.g. single group pre-post test, non-randomized controlled trials) or experimental (e.g. randomized controlled trial) design. Proposals which utilize a combination of qualitative and quantitative evaluation strategies are also welcomed. TWCF recognizes that achieving impact at scale is a long term game, and projects which achieve proof of concept may be eligible in future to apply for Transition to Scale (TTS) grants of up to USD $1 million over three years. These awards will be offered for innovations to promote and nurture character strengths which have an established, peer-reviewed evidence base, and are ready to achieve substantial impact at scale through widespread implementation. Examples: An algorithm based mobile application to encourage acts of gratitude among employees at a call center in India A visual arts program to promote understanding and practice of Ukama (a Shona relational ethic) among children of Zimbabwean migrants in South Africa A curriculum to foster perseverance, reliability and future-mindedness among formerly homeless youth enrolled in community employment programs in Guatemala A virtual reality game to foster humility among emerging business leaders in Jamaica A play-based activity toolkit to promote self-regulation among children at creches in Pakistan Instrument Development Grants: Instrument Development grants will be awarded for proposals which aim to develop or adapt tools for measuring character strengths in novel contexts. In addition to outlining a robust, multi-stage evaluation strategy to demonstrate instrument validity, proposals should clearly identify the rationale for developing/adapting the proposed instrument, why it represents an improvement over existing instruments and articulate how the tool will contribute to the science and practice of character development. Examples: Adaptation and validation of the Heartland Forgiveness Scale for select indigenous 6

7 communities in Colombia Development and testing of a visual scale to measure empathy among caregivers for the elderly in Tanzania Scale Up Grants TWCF is also offering one Transition to Scale grant of USD $1 million over three years. This award will be offered for an character development innovation with an established, peer-reviewed evidence base, that is ready to achieve substantial impact at scale through widespread implementation. TWCF believes that the route to sustainable impact at scale can take several forms. For some innovations, scale may be achieved via integration into existing services or programs, including government funding to sustain the service, or the uptake of the model by large established national or international non-governmental organizations. In the case of social enterprises, transition to scale comprises the formation of a workable operational model with proven capacity to grow. Transition to scale proposals should include a robust implementation evaluation framework to measure reach, effectiveness, extent of adoption and sustainability. V. Evaluation Process Proposals submitted in advance of the application deadline will first be assessed for eligibility based on the information outlined in this document. Proposals which meet the basic eligibility criteria will be reviewed by a minimum of three external experts. Following external review, the top ranked proposals will be subject to approval by the foundation s Board of Trustees. VI. Evaluation Criteria All proof of concept grant proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria: Innovation TWCF seeks to fund innovative proposals which tackle the challenge of character development in novel and thoughtful ways. This may include proposals which use emerging technologies (e.g. wearables), novel analytical techniques (e.g. big data), or are delivered through non-academic platforms such as businesses, arts, sports and music. Alignment with donor intent Proposals will be evaluated for the extent to which they reflect an alignment with a belief in the transformational potential of character strengths, as envisioned by Sir John Templeton (see Section II, relation to donor intent). Evaluative Methodology and Methodological Rigor Proposals must clearly articulate their research question, type of impact they expect to achieve, and present a rigorous scientific approach for evaluating and testing their hypotheses. Potential for Impact TWCF seeks proposals which will result in measurable, transformative impact on individuals within the project lifetime. Proposals should also demonstrate potential for increasing scholarly or public understanding of character 7

8 development, and include a clear plan for disseminating results. Team capacity & expertise Proposals must demonstrate that the project team possesses the array of skills and experience to successfully execute the project, and/or a plan for filling in gaps in knowledge and expertise. Cost effectiveness Costs should be reasonable and clearly articulated. Potential to scale Proposals should be designed with scalability in mind. This means considering the types of strategic partnerships needed to implement the project on a wide scale, and ensuring that the intervention is designed to be easily, economically and efficiently replicated. Clarity and Focus Proposal objectives and design should be clearly articulated. Please see the Proof of Concept Proposal Guidance Document for more information All Transition to Scale grant proposals will be evaluated based on the above criteria, as well as: Evidence for proof of concept Is there an existing evidence base to prove that the intervention is effective? Strategic partnerships Does the proposal include strong partnerships with players who are key for ensuring the scale and sustainability of the project (e.g. government, beneficiaries, school principals) Potential for scale & sustainability Is the project itself designed in a way that it can be easily and efficiently replicated and sustained without ongoing grant funding? VII. Eligibility Criteria The lead applicant (Principal Investigator) must be affiliated with an institution based in one of the countries listed in Appendix 1. There are no restrictions on the affiliation of the co-pi or other collaborators, and collaborations between researchers from eligible countries and other parts of the world are strongly encouraged. Implementation of the project must take place in an eligible country listed in Appendix A. This does not need to be the same country the lead applicant is affiliated with. A majority (50%+) of the budget must be spent on activities/personnel in an eligible country. The applicant can be a non-profit organization, academic institution, for-profit company or another recognized institution that is incorporated in an eligible jurisdiction and is capable of receiving and administering funding. Institutional overhead or indirect costs must be below 15% of the total grant budget. At this time, TWCF is only able to consider proposals submitted in English. Please note that TWCF does not fund: Contributions to endowments, support for brick and mortar buildings, or other capital projects. 8

9 Long-term, repetitive support or operational support. Projects should be discrete and last no more than 24 months. Work that already receives widespread, financial support from other sources. Work that is pseudo-scientific or is based on unreliable methodology. Projects with an exclusively historical focus. VIII. Outputs Grant awardees will be required to provide progress reports on an annual basis and a final report at the end of the project period. Progress reports will consist of: a summary of work to date List of outputs produced according to the stated timeline statement of impact review of key challenges to date, and articulation of next steps. Final reports will consist of: statement of impact and supporting materials (e.g. statistical analyses etc) List of outputs produced according to the stated timeline stories of transformation (individual or community level) post grant plans, and copies of any relevant dissemination materials (e.g. academic articles, posters, etc). IX. Capacity Building TWCF aims to provide successful applicants with capacity building opportunities. This may include additional funding to support partnerships and collaborations with leading experts in areas such as monitoring and evaluation, policy engagement or communications, and in-person opportunities for peer learning through participation in relevant conferences and convenings. X. Application Process Interested applicants should complete the online application form at no later than 23:59 PST on 15 June Further information on selection criteria and the application process may be found in the Proposal Guidance Documents. 9

10 XI. Notification of Applicants Successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified via the provided on the application form. Unfortunately due to volume, we will not be able to provide individual feedback for unsuccessful applicants. XII. Conditions of the Award Meets requirements as stated in the application form. Signed grant agreement by Grantee s governing body. Upon request we can provide sample terms and conditions. Satisfactory compliance with foundation s policy for anti-money laundering, countering and financing of terrorism including organization s constitutive documents, financial statements, and other documentation requested to complete such checks. Ability to secure necessary research and ethical approvals for research from relevant institution(s). XIII. Inquiries Inquiries should be directed to 10

11 List of Eligible Countries Appendix 1 ABW Aruba AFG Afghanistan AGO Angola ALB Albania ARG Argentina ARM Armenia ASM American Samoa ATG Antigua and Barbuda AZE Azerbaijan BDI Burundi BEN Benin BFA Burkina Faso BGD Bangladesh BGR Bulgaria BHS Bahamas, The BLR Belarus BLZ Belize BOL Bolivia BRA Brazil BRB Barbados BTN Bhutan BWA Botswana CAF Central African Republic CHL Chile CHN China CIV Côte d'ivoire CMR Cameroon COD Congo, Dem. Rep. COG Congo, Rep. COL Colombia COM Comoros CPV Cabo Verde CRI Costa Rica CUW Curacao CYM Cayman Islands DJI Djibouti DMA Dominica DOM Dominican Republic DZA Algeria ECU Ecuador EGY Egypt, Arab Rep. ERI Eritrea FJI Fiji FSM Micronesia, Fed. Sts. GAB Gabon GEO Georgia GHA Ghana GIN Guinea GMB Gambia, The GNB Guinea-Bissau GNQ Equatorial Guinea GRD Grenada GTM Guatemala GUY Guyana HND Honduras HRV Croatia HTI Haiti IDN Indonesia IND India JAM Jamaica JOR Jordan KAZ Kazakhstan KEN Kenya KGZ Kyrgyz Republic KHM Cambodia KIR Kiribati KNA St. Kitts and Nevis LAO Lao PDR LBN Lebanon LBR Liberia LBY Libya LCA St. Lucia LKA LSO MAF part) MAR MDA MDG MDV MEX MHL MKD MLI MMR MNE MNG MOZ MRT MUS MWI MYS NAM NER NGA NIC NPL NRU PAK PAN PER PHL PNG PRI PRY PSE Gaza ROU RUS RWA Sri Lanka Lesotho St. Martin (French Morocco Moldova Madagascar Maldives Mexico Marshall Islands Macedonia, FYR Mali Myanmar Montenegro Mongolia Mozambique Mauritania Mauritius Malawi Malaysia Namibia Niger Nigeria Nicaragua Nepal Nauru Pakistan Panama Peru Philippines Papua New Guinea Puerto Rico Paraguay West Bank and Romania Russian Federation Rwanda 11

12 SEN Senegal SLB Solomon Islands SLE Sierra Leone SLV El Salvador SOM Somalia SSD South Sudan STP São Tomé and Principe SUR Suriname SWZ Swaziland SXM Sint Maarten (Dutch part) TCA Turks and Caicos Islands TCD Chad TGO Togo THA Thailand TJK Tajikistan TKM Turkmenistan TLS Timor-Leste TON Tonga TUR Turkey TUV Tuvalu TZA Tanzania UKR Ukraine URY Uruguay UZB Uzbekistan VCT St. Vincent and the Grenadines VEN Venezuela, RB VGB British Virgin Islands VIR Virgin Islands (U.S.) VNM Vietnam WSM Samoa XKX Kosovo ZAF South Africa ZMB Zambia ZWE Zimbabwe 12